Abstract: Disclosed is an improved diffraction structure for 3D display systems. The improved diffraction structure includes an intermediate layer that resides between a waveguide substrate and a top grating surface. The top grating surface comprises a first material that corresponds to a first refractive index value, the underlayer comprises a second material that corresponds to a second refractive index value, and the substrate comprises a third material that corresponds to a third refractive index value. According to additional embodiments, improved approaches are provided to implement deposition of imprint materials onto a substrate, which allow for very precise distribution and deposition of different imprint patterns onto any number of substrate surfaces.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a variable diameter fiber includes providing a fiber optic cable comprising a cladding region, a fiber core, and a plurality of sacrificial regions disposed in the cladding region and focusing a laser beam at a series of predetermined locations inside the fiber optic cable. The method also includes creating a series of damage sites associated with the series of predetermined locations, wherein the series of damage sites define a variable diameter profile and a latticework in the cladding region of the fiber optic cable. The method further includes exposing the fiber optic cable to an etchant solution, preferentially etching the series of damage sites, and separating peripheral portions of the fiber optic cable to release the variable diameter fiber.

Abstract: An augmented reality display system is configured to direct a plurality of parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images into a viewer's eye. The parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images provide different parallax views of a virtual object, and impinge on the pupil from different angles. In the aggregate, the wavefronts of light forming the images approximate a continuous divergent wavefront and provide selectable accommodation cues for the user, depending on the amount of parallax disparity between the intra-pupil images. The amount of parallax disparity is selected using a light source that outputs light for different images from different locations, with spatial differences in the locations of the light output providing differences in the paths that the light takes to the eye, which in turn provide different amounts of parallax disparity.

Abstract: Methods and systems for acquiring and/or projecting images from and/or to a target area are provided. Such a method or system can include an optical fiber assembly which may be driven to scan the target area in a scan pattern. The optical fiber assembly may provide multiple effective light sources (e.g., via a plurality of optical fibers) that are axially staggered with respect to an optical system located between the optical fiber and the target area. The optical system may be operable to focus and/or redirect the light from the multiple light sources onto separate focal planes. A composite image may be generated based on light reflected from and/or projected onto the separate focal planes. The composite image may have an extended depth of focus or field spanning over a distance between the separate focal planes while maintaining or improving image resolution.

Abstract: A method for displaying virtual content to a user, the method includes determining an accommodation of the user's eyes. The method also includes delivering, through a first waveguide of a stack of waveguides, light rays having a first wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the first wavefront curvature corresponds to a focal distance of the determined accommodation. The method further includes delivering, through a second waveguide of the stack of waveguides, light rays having a second wavefront curvature, the second wavefront curvature associated with a predetermined margin of the focal distance of the determined accommodation.

Abstract: A wearable augmented reality head-mounted display system can be configured to pass light from the world forward a wearer wearing the head-mounted system into an eye of the wearer. The head-mounted display system can include an optical display that is configured to output light to form an image. The system may include one or more waveguides that are disposed to receiving the light from the display. A variable power reflector can be disposed on the forward side of the one or more waveguides. The reflector can be configured to have an optical power that is adjustable upon application of an electrical signal.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a user display device comprising a housing frame mountable on the head of the user, a lens mountable on the housing frame and a projection sub system coupled to the housing frame to determine a location of appearance of a display object in a field of view of the user based at least in part on at least one of a detection of a head movement of the user and a prediction of a head movement of the user, and to project the display object to the user based on the determined location of appearance of the display object.

Abstract: Configurations are disclosed for a health system to be used in various healthcare applications, e.g., for patient diagnostics, monitoring, and/or therapy. The health system may comprise a light generation module to transmit light or an image to a user, one or more sensors to detect a physiological parameter of the user's body, including their eyes, and processing circuitry to analyze an input received in response to the presented images to determine one or more health conditions or defects.

Abstract: Image projection devices, high-speed fiber scanned displays and related methods for projecting an image onto a surface and interfacing with the projected image are provided. A method for projecting one or more images and obtaining feedback with an optical input-output assembly is provided. The input-output assembly comprising a light-scanning optical fiber and a sensor. The method includes generating a sequence of light in response to one or more image representations and a scan pattern of the optical fiber, articulating the optical fiber in the scan pattern, projecting the sequence of light from the articulated optical fiber, and generating a feedback signal with the sensor in response to reflections of the sequence of light.

Abstract: A method for displaying virtual content to a user, the method includes determining an accommodation of the user's eyes. The method also includes delivering, through a first waveguide of a stack of waveguides, light rays having a first wavefront curvature based at least in part on the determined accommodation, wherein the first wavefront curvature corresponds to a focal distance of the determined accommodation. The method further includes delivering, through a second waveguide of the stack of waveguides, light rays having a second wavefront curvature, the second wavefront curvature associated with a predetermined margin of the focal distance of the determined accommodation.

Abstract: An augmented reality display system is configured to direct a plurality of parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images into a viewer's eye. The parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images provide different parallax views of a virtual object, and impinge on the pupil from different angles. In the aggregate, the wavefronts of light forming the images approximate a continuous divergent wavefront and provide selectable accommodation cues for the user, depending on the amount of parallax disparity between the intra-pupil images. The amount of parallax disparity is selected using a light source that outputs light for different images from different locations, with spatial differences in the locations of the light output providing differences in the paths that the light takes to the eye, which in turn provide different amounts of parallax disparity.

Abstract: A retina image template matching method is based on the registration and comparison between the images captured with portable low-cost fundus cameras (e.g., a consumer grade camera typically incorporated into a smartphone or tablet computer) and a baseline image. The method solves the challenges posed by registering small and low-quality retinal template images captured with such cameras. Our method combines dimension reduction methods with a mutual information (MI) based image registration technique. In particular, principle components analysis (PCA) and optionally block PCA are used as a dimension reduction method to localize the template image coarsely to the baseline image, then the resulting displacement parameters are used to initialize the MI metric optimization for registration of the template image with the closest region of the baseline image.

Abstract: A waveguide apparatus includes a planar waveguide and at least one optical diffraction element (DOE) that provides a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and interior of the planar waveguide. A phase profile of the DOE may combine a linear diffraction grating with a circular lens, to shape a wave front and produce beams with desired focus. Waveguide apparati may be assembled to create multiple focal planes. The DOE may have a low diffraction efficiency, and planar waveguides may be transparent when viewed normally, allowing passage of light from an ambient environment (e.g., real world) useful in AR systems. Light may be returned for temporally sequentially passes through the planar waveguide. The DOE(s) may be fixed or may have dynamically adjustable characteristics. An optical coupler system may couple images to the waveguide apparatus from a projector, for instance a biaxially scanning cantilevered optical fiber tip.

Abstract: An augmented reality AR system and method for a retail experience include a waveguide apparatus that includes a planar waveguide and at least one optical diffraction element The AR retail system and method recognizes user location in a retail establishment, retrieves data corresponding to the retail establishment and generates virtual content relating to the retail establishment based on the retrieved data. The AR retail system and method creates a virtual user interface in a user's field of view. Virtual content is displayed on the virtual user interface while the user is engaged in retail activity and may be based on user input. The AR retail system and method may provide entertainment, facilitate the shopping experience, offer virtual coupons, render games based on locations throughout a store or based on a shopping list, provide information about food choices such as calorie counts, and identify metadata associated with items.

Abstract: Augmented reality and virtual reality display systems and devices are configured for efficient use of projected light. In some aspects, a display system includes a light projection system and a head-mounted display configured to project light into an eye of the user to display virtual image content. The head-mounted display includes at least one waveguide comprising a plurality of in-coupling regions each configured to receive, from the light projection system, light corresponding to a portion of the user's field of view and to in-couple the light into the waveguide; and a plurality of out-coupling regions configured to out-couple the light out of the waveguide to display the virtual content, wherein each of the out-coupling regions are configured to receive light from different ones of the in-coupling regions. In some implementations, each in-coupling region has a one-to-one correspondence with a unique corresponding out-coupling region.

Abstract: Techniques for tracking eye movement in an augmented reality system identify a plurality of base images of an object or a portion thereof. A search image may be generated based at least in part upon at least some of the plurality of base images. A deep learning result may be generated at least by performing a deep learning process on a base image using a neural network in a deep learning mode. A captured image may be localized at least by performing an image registration process on the captured image and the search image using a Kalman filter model and the deep learning result.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a user display device comprising a housing frame mountable on the head of the user, a lens mountable on the housing frame and a projection sub system coupled to the housing frame to determine a location of appearance of a display object in a field of view of the user based at least in part on at least one of a detection of a head movement of the user and a prediction of a head movement of the user, and to project the display object to the user based on the determined location of appearance of the display object.

Abstract: An augmented reality display system includes a pair of variable focus lens elements that sandwich a waveguide stack. One of the lens elements is positioned between the waveguide stack and a user's eye to correct for refractive errors in the focusing of light projected from the waveguide stack to that eye. The lens elements may also be configured to provide appropriate optical power to place displayed virtual content on a desired depth plane. The other lens element is between the ambient environment and the waveguide stack, and is configured to provide optical power to compensate for aberrations in the transmission of ambient light through the waveguide stack and the lens element closest to the eye. In addition, an eye-tracking system monitors the vergence of the user's eyes and automatically and continuously adjusts the optical powers of the pair of lens elements based on the determined vergence of those eyes.

Abstract: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a diffractive input coupling element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate. The diffractive input coupling element is configured to receive an input beam of light and to couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam. The eyepiece waveguide also includes a diffractive combined pupil expander-extractor (CPE) element formed on or in the first surface or the second surface of the substrate. The diffractive CPE element includes a first portion and a second portion divided by an axis. A first set of diffractive optical elements is disposed in the first portion and oriented at a positive angle with respect to the axis and a second set of diffractive optical elements is disposed in the second portion and oriented at a negative angle with respect to the axis.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a cantilever having a device surface, a tapered surface, and an end region includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side and etching a predetermined portion of the second side to form a plurality of recesses in the second side. Each of the plurality of recesses comprises an etch termination surface. The method also includes anisotropically etching the etch termination surface to form the tapered surface of the cantilever and etching a predetermined portion of the device surface to release the end region of the cantilever.